It's taken me a long time to do so, but I've just finished reading this book.

Simon - I'd like to congratulate you because it's really very, very good indeed. It's a rare thing indeed for me to feel moved to actually write a review of a book, but in this case I would like to. I remember the murders so well, particularly Maartje Tamboezer - I was approaching my 10th birthday when she was killed, and the black and white picture of her play pouting for the camera has always stuck in my head for some reason.

Firstly, it's extremely sympathetically written. While you are left in no doubt of the horror of what those women went through at the hands of Mulcahy and Duffy, it doesn't glorify the violence or go into grisly detail. An air of respect for the victims is maintained throughout - I suspect that Simon's Father would approve of the way that the details of the rapes and murders were handled. The respect that Simon (and all of DS Farquhar's colleagues) had for him flows through the pages.

Secondly, it's refreshing - to say the least - to read a book that focuses on the story from the point of view of the investigative team. It's almost like Mulcahy and Duffy are relegated to a footnote in history - two abnormal, impotent and unimportant men, who would never have had the slightest impact on the world on their own, had they not met. I suspect that time and age have made Duffy genuinely contrite for what he did - I am not in the least bit sorry that he has the rest of his life to reflect upon the misery that he brought to the world.

While reading the book, I was horrified to discover that Mulcahy has a website. The drivel that is being spouted on that site tested my belief in freedom of speech to the absolute limit. From Simon's book, I understand that DM also named every single victim on his grotesque site (even the previously anonymous rape victims) and quite who is assisting him in this venture is a mind boggling thought. The only slight disappointment for me is that he's spent a decade less in prison than his dear friend.

I highly, highly recommend the book - gripping and thoughtfully written.

It's taken me a long time to do so, but I've just finished reading this book.

Simon - I'd like to congratulate you because it's really very, very good indeed. It's a rare thing indeed for me to feel moved to actually write a review of a book, but in this case I would like to. I remember the murders so well, particularly Maartje Tamboezer - I was approaching my 10th birthday when she was killed, and the black and white picture of her play pouting for the camera has always stuck in my head for some reason.

Firstly, it's extremely sympathetically written. While you are left in no doubt of the horror of what those women went through at the hands of Mulcahy and Duffy, it doesn't glorify the violence or go into grisly detail. An air of respect for the victims is maintained throughout - I suspect that Simon's Father would approve of the way that the details of the rapes and murders were handled. The respect that Simon (and all of DS Farquhar's colleagues) had for him flows through the pages.

Secondly, it's refreshing - to say the least - to read a book that focuses on the story from the point of view of the investigative team. It's almost like Mulcahy and Duffy are relegated to a footnote in history - two abnormal, impotent and unimportant men, who would never have had the slightest impact on the world on their own, had they not met. I suspect that time and age have made Duffy genuinely contrite for what he did - I am not in the least bit sorry that he has the rest of his life to reflect upon the misery that he brought to the world.

While reading the book, I was horrified to discover that Mulcahy has a website. The drivel that is being spouted on that site tested my belief in freedom of speech to the absolute limit. From Simon's book, I understand that DM also named every single victim on his grotesque site (even the previously anonymous rape victims) and quite who is assisting him in this venture is a mind boggling thought. The only slight disappointment for me is that he's spent a decade less in prison than his dear friend.

I highly, highly recommend the book - gripping and thoughtfully written.

Thank you so much for this, it means a huge amount to me. It was an extraordinary journey to go on, and I couldn't have wished for more that what you have taken the trouble to write here.